"Some men never grow up, they just grow older"- Mr Amari Soul
The sun was at its best in late November. Washed clothes took an hour or two to dry, depending on the nature of the fabric. Kamsi was enjoying that time of the year but not the sun or the heat that came with it but the clothes that dried in a short time .
She loved to sit outside, on the balcony of the bungalow, reading one of the books from the Vicar's library. It was Angels and demons Written by Dan Brown that she held in her hands that hot afternoon . She was wearing one of the flowered gowns her stepmother got her. The gowns were sleeveless or with little teacup hands - Perfect for the weather.
While she read the book, she could not help being marvelled at how people that had almost stood without faith, all turned to God as a source of light in dark times. It was the nature of man, she thought. Man always would choose to be carefree until the going gets tough and without any other escape, the last source of light and hope remains God.
"but do you show up? " She questioned silently with her eyes shut and her head thrown back on the back seat.
Everywhere was silent and she too was silent like she waited for a response out of that silence. A response that would soothe her mind, a source of light in the form of words.
"Yes. I always show up."
Those were the words her mind taught her to believe she heard because she was desperate for a response and she really laughed at that desperation because she had never heard from the divinity. She had never even prayed enough to hear from him so to her, it was impossible to get that response she hoped for then.
she opened her eyes and watched the movement of the tall Whistling pine that was outside the gate and maybe it did whistle or the wind had a sound. She watched it for a while, partially listening to the music from Idem's radio and his voice each time he joined a song, singing meaning far away from the song.
She was the only one at home. Genevieve had gone for her catering business, the boys were at school , the Vicar had a load of activities for each day so he was never home during the day.
She was about going inside when someone knocked on the gate. She sat back while Idem reduced his radio's volume waiting for the second knock and it did come almost immediately. He stood then and hurried to open the gate.
"The mama! " He hailed, shifting for the guest to enter.
In came Maka holding a purse on one hand and carrying a small travel bag on the other. Her eyes moved to the balcony but she immediately turned back to Idem.
"My guy, en don tey o. I didn't even know you would recognize me. "
"Ah, I no dey forget fine face, " Idem said, obviously proud of himself.
Maka opened her pause and handed him some money.
"Buy bread chop joor," she said, "You be better person. "
"Mama you too much. You no go lack," he said, happily after accepting the money.
Kamsi watched as she gingerly walked to the place she was sitting, effortlessly swaying her hips like a thick model on the runway.
"You should have been dead," Maka said.
Kamsi smiled, knowing the worries she had put her through. She unlocked the bolt of the protector and let her in.
"Kamsiriochukwu, I didn't even know you were alive. What sort of plan is this na?" Maka continued.
"Maka, please sit down. It's a long story. It was not planned."
" There better be a story or else I would just run outside and inform Police that you are here," Maka said, sitting on a plastic seat beside Kamsi.
"Did I kill somebody, what's my business with them? " Kamsi asked, confusion written all over her face.
"Look at this one, " Maka laughed. "Your mad husband has reported you missing. "
"Why would he do that? "
"Stop joor," Maka said, irritated she was shocked. "Don't you know how extreme your husband could be? Besides, you are actually missing."
Kamsi was still shocked. "It's on papers? " she asked.
"I doubt. He called me and told me that he has reported to the police so wherever they see you, they would bundle you back home, " Maka said. "Those were his words though. "
"It's himself he wants to embarrass not me," Kamsi said, opening the book she was with and bending into it - An attempt at nonchalance when her thoughts were disorganized.
Maka snatched the book from her hand, "I didn't travel down here to look at your face, shebi you know. "
"Come and freshen up first," Kamsi said, attempting to stand but Maka held her leg.
"Start talking."
Resigned, Kamsi sat back and folded her arms underneath.
"Maka, I have aged thirty years more in a few months," She turned to look at her friend's face. "I'm actually tired," she said.
Maka was silent, didn't even move to hold her hand to offer her support even as a streak of tears rolled down her right eye.
"Mark locked me outside our house on the basis of cheating, " Kamsi continued.
"Cheating?" Maka questioned, "With who? "
"You wouldn't even believe it," She said with a small laugh. "Okechukwu, Michelle's brother."
Maka's angry eyes remained glued on her as she narrated the whole Okechukwu's episode.
"So you slept where that night? " Maka asked, going back to the other issue, knowing how impossible cheating sounded.
"In his car," Kamsi replied .
She had told the story twice but it still didn't stop the tears from flowing each time she told it anew.
" Kamsi, to be honest, I am so tired of seeing you this way, " Maka spoke.
"I'm tired of it! I'm someone who fights for the rights of women, I help women to stand on their feet and my own friend is here playing with mud, refusing to stand and see that she is backwards. "
In silence, Kamsi allowed her friend's words to sting her eyes and her heart.
" Give me a go ahead, I would begin your divorce proceedings, " Maka said with hope glistening in her eyes as she looked at Kamsi.
"It's not that easy. I don't want a divorce." Kamsi said, wiping her eyes and then staring at the gate through the iron bars of the protector.
It took a lot of strength for Maka to stop herself from falling on her knees and pleading with her friend.
"What do you want ?" Maka asked instead.
"I want this baby. I just want to give birth to this baby, " Tears seeped from her eyes as she replied.
" And after that what next? "
"I don't know. I just want to have this baby."
" Don't get me angry. You want to have a baby and what arrangements have you made for the environment you are introducing the baby into? " Maka was already annoyed.
"Maka, it's my home. I'll fix it," Kamsi said in a tone that should have got anyone to back down but not Maka.
" You can not fix a broken trust," She said to her before she got up and went in with her travelling bag.
"Come and show me your room. Mumsy said I'm staying with you! " She shouted from the parlor.
It was then Kamsi stood up and led the way to the room she was staying in, wishing her stepmother had kept her secret just a little longer.
****************************
In the evening, the house was full and everyone was smiling appreciating what Maka bought for them. Kamsi sat on the dining seat with Onyedikachi as he admired his Casio watch over and over again.
" It's marveling how she knew just what I wanted," Reverend Nwachukwu said to his wife who was sitting on the arm of his sofa.
"I'm wearing it with you sha," She responded then faced Maka who was on another sofa. "Why didn't you also get a track suit for me? "
"Mummy, isn't that greed? If you don't like the slippers she got you, you can pass it to me," Kamsi said from the dining seat.
"Ole," Genevieve replied, hugging her slippers.
Chisomaga was sitting on the same sofa with Maka, his new casio watch on his wrist.
"Chisom, this one you are quiet " Reverend Nwachukwu observed.
"Me? Daddy, I'm not here o. I'm imagining how I would change my walking steps in school tomorrow, " he replied.
Everyone laughed but Onyedikachi said, "Are you not mad? If you take your watch to school, it would just disappear, voom! "
Everyone's attention returned to the program showing on the television where corp members were sharing their camp experience.
"Chisom, Onyi, you people should go and make dinner, " Genevieve said.
The boys sheepishly smiled and left the parlor.
"Don't they need supervision before they burn down the house? " Maka enquired .
Genevieve laughed, "My boys are good cooks."
Maka's phone started to ring immediately. She picked the call and hurried to Kamsi.
"It's for you," she said .
It was Michelle written as the caller.
"You guys told the whole world already, " Kamsi said, putting the phone to her ear.
"It's now me that's the whole world," Michelle said.
Kamsi laughed, knowing the call was going to be a long one. She stood and walked to her room.
"How are you naa? " Kamsi asked, trying to set a lighter mood.
"Don't ask me rubbish. How could you just leave? According to your husband he said, you ran away."
"And why would I run away? " Kamsi asked, angry at the comments her husband was making.
"Joseph asked him that question also."
"What did he say? "
"I wouldn't know. Women can be complex - His words," Michelle replied.
"Honestly, I'm sorry for not telling you guys. I know your husband would be so disappointed. Things were not going well and I didn't want to bother anyone especially the two of you. You guys have done so much already."
"My husband has been trying your number almost every minute and mostly quiet about it even while I'm ranting. "
"I'm so sorry. I will let you know everything when I come back, " Kamsi said.
"I have airtime. Tell me now. I have informed your husband of your whereabouts so he can withdraw his rubbish report at the station."
"You should have allowed him to continue. You shouldn't have told him."
"Baby, it's Kamsi. Come over here," Michelle said on the other end.
There was silence as Kamsi waited for Joseph's voice to come on and then it did.
"How are you? " He asked with all calmness.
"Dede I'm fine, " she replied, feeling like a child that knew the mother was hiding a cane inside her wrapper.
" That's good. There's a call I'm waiting for. If I get that call, I should be in Abuja before the weekend," he said.
"Okay. All the best, sir."
"I'll see you then. "
Michelle's voice came back on.
"Kamsi, this calmness you hear in my voice is not how I feel o. Mark actually came to the house and said so many stupid things to me. Joe had to even ask him to leave. "
"Are you serious, what did he say you did to him? " Kamsi asked.
"Something about... " she stopped talking and went silent for sometime.
"Are you still there? " Kamsi enquired.
" Yes, yes. Sorry. Joe was talking to me. "
"He said not to tell me about it? " Kamsi asked.
"Actually it's not something to bother you with. Let's leave it. I'm just so happy to hear your voice."
Kamsi's mood had changed from the hesitation and she just nodded even though Michelle could not see her.
"If Joe is coming, I would come with him too," Michelle chatted on.
"Okay, hope to see you guys soon," Kamsi said without excitement.
The call ended after a long time of one sided chats with Kamsi's monosyllabic replies . Kamsi lay on the bed trying to complete the sentence Michelle meant to say but to no avail. Her husband knew where she was. She also wondered what his next line of action would be. She could not even guess because his actions of late came as a shock to her.